Ah Ngan - Circle of Friends

Since the last ex-greendot outing, I organized another one for those that couldn't make it. However, turnout from the expected group wasn't that great, but ended up that my old pals, ST and TK could make it for this outing and with their families too. With their last minute addition, the resulting group was quite a sizable one seeing four cars doing the Sedili run to Tg Leman.

I was really happy that ST and TK could join me this round, as it had been a while since we had any gathering as friends and as families. There would be few people that you could claim that you have known for decades. But they were just that, and were part of my growing up, my working life and my life history. Therefore, this outing was very special one, at least to me.

The plan was to start early, but ST was a little late. With some hassle of filling up the white cards for the custom, the entire group finally get together wtih IZ's group at carrefour Macdonalds around 7.30am. I limited the time for a leisurely breakfast as we had to be on the move as the drive would take about 2 hours.

Famous Nimo from the forum


However, timing was just nice due to Ah ngan boat only arriving around 10.30am. We touched down on the Kelong floor around 11am. Reaching there, I immediately recognised Nimo from the forum and went over to say hi. And true to his reputation for getting todaks, he just landed a good size todak when I went over to say hello. With him was his son, the famed todak killer little boy and his bunch of hard core kelong friends. However for some reasons, I hardly bump into him in the kelong during the stay and quite wondered what he was experimenting with this time round.

I had read his article on Orkar fishing and wanted to try it out. However when I asked him, he said "no orkar" today, and I gave up trying. Since the expert has spoken, no point in trying to challenge it.

The fishing in the Kelong was quickly evident that it wasn't going to be that good. I was trying to demonstrate how to jig to the bunch of newbies, and couldn't even hit one tiny tamban with 2 tries. In fact for the whole trip, no tambans at all. I left it at that and let the newbies discovered for themselves on how to fish. Even the ever obliging todaks were quite sparse and not visible around the Kelong. Water visibility was quite poor, and not much of a current.

However, weather on the whole was rather good, with only the early part of the afternoon being a little hot. There was a short light platter of rain, but it cleared up very quickly but helped to cool down the weather. Seeing that the fishing wasn't good on plain old tamban jigs, I instructed my fellow trainees to cut sotong to bait the hooks.

The general catches were mainly Yellow fish (Indian Snapper), Kunings and Kekek (Pony fish). From these, Eric and gang who previously had great success with todak, starting throwing them out as live bait on floats. But action wasn't too great, and they were missing the occasional hookups as they flip flop over the sea and did their signature hook throwing jumps.

First good catch by Lijuan


Proof that sotong eats fish


What !#$% happened to my fish?


This is how to get a todak


ST family with demo todak


I decided to boost the group confidence and toss out a todak rig. One good fellow took my bait and with a little luck, I managed to subdue it and brought it over to the Kelong floor. Everyone was excited with the catch since they were like seeing todaks for the first time. Todak fever started all over again.

IZ spoil market, and caught one bigger than mine! measured 1.3 kg


Zunyou doing weight lifting


Vera and mummy with spoil market todak


Funny, looked so small together with Lijuan !?


Ting ting with the biggest fish she ever held


Later I go restart server to catch one


My biggest fish wor!


IZ is our friend


This is a stupid todak. Never buy insurance


IZ went on to break my record catch and hauled up a good size todak of around 1.3 kg. It was a impressive specimen and one of the biggest catch for the trip.

ST stopped messing with sotong baits and setup for todak to give it a try. Some misses later, he found it to be exciting and tried all late afternoon but with no result. However, the experience was enough for him to keep trying.

Two sea monkey, jumping on the bed


Where the fish?


After dinner, I started seeing people getting Parangs and confirmed that Parangs are still plentiful today. The other group where Jon was with are all experts fisherman. I think for the trip, they got more than 10 Parangs and countless todaks altogether. IZ got a very good catch of Parang on live bait drifting. To his credit, he observed how the others were doing it and copied it with great success.

Zunyou with my demo parang on SS minnow


Iz's catch on live bait drifting


We never play cheat and use plastic fish


My catch on gold pin minnow


Night came and I decided to demonstrate to ST on how to do lure fishing. With my trusty SS Minnow, the lumi one, I tossed it out to show how it was done. Third throw only, and wham! fish on. it was a good hookup, and despite the jumping protests, I managed to lead the parang under the kelong and with one swing, got the fellow on the wooden floor. ST was of course impressed seeing how "plastics" could get something like the thrashing thing on the floor. To give him a head start, I passed him the proven lure and setup a luring rig for him.

TK caught the action too, and I too gave out to him a pin minnow lure. I also gave ZW a L-minnow to try out. With that, I had recruited a new batch of lurers and dispatched them to practise their newly acquired skill on the dark open sea.

ST first lure fishing catch. This lure very good


ST and family with soon to be fish ball parang


ST 2nd smaller parang


Certified lure fisherman


I was luring with ST most of the time, when he suddenly got a good take. With some coaching, he successfully brought the Parang on the Kelong floor. It was finally sweet success and he was grinning from ear to ear. The entire family came out to share the glory and it was rounds and rounds of picture taking. From there on, he was a certified lurer.

I told the group to sleep around 12am so that they could wake up around 4.30am to start fishing. However, there was a good number of people having the same idea. But the fishes were there, and the other group got a good number of around 13 parangs all laid on the floor. ST went around on his own and managed to get 2 more Parangs all on his own. It was quite an achievement.

Best view in the morning


I got one last catch of Parang just before the sky lighted up. I noticed they were suddenly more active as if to catch the last meal before retiring for the day. The last one was a strong fellow and was able to spool out my lines. Bringing it under the Kelong, just as I was lifting it up, the lure and Parang disconnected and there went a prize catch. But it was a good fight.:)

I taking a break from PSP


My todak, hehehe (the mad fisherman)


See. I also know how to catch fish


Restarted server already


Pose pose like safari hunter


Interesting catch of a "slipper" fish


Finally got you


Quick take the picture. Very heavy


United Colors of Benetton


PSP more fun than fishing


Morning came, and Parangs all disappeared. Luring ceased to be effective. It was back to todak fishing. ST got a take, but due to line entanglement, it got away again. For this trip, he didn't manage to land one. TK however got lucky and finally successfully landed a todak. It was certainly a good achievement, and an upgrade from the last trip where he was just getting tiny ones. It was rounds of photo and a job well done.

Zhao Wei also got lucky and managed 2 todaks in a row. Todaks were certainly helping our newbies to have a good time.

Lai lai, buy 2 get 1 free


Kuning wave is in


How come no escalator?


We will be back


The sun came out and it soon get too hot to be fishing. Around 11am, we started packing and cleaning up our stuff. After a good lunch, we headed back to the Jetty. For this trip, the return was quite late, and we set off from the Jetty at around 2.45pm. From there, a quick drive to Permas Jusco for dinner and quick shopping and then to the custom to brave the jam. The traffic was quite bad, and the jam started from a long way. But the drive over was about 45 minutes, considered not too bad.

I think everyone did enjoy the trip, and would most certainly come again. And this was despite the relatively poor bait fishing this time. Thanks to todaks and parangs, they helped to give us some actions to remember, for life.

Ah Yew - Ex Greendot outing

Changing hooks to Stinger ones


This is a very short follow up trip since my last 3 weeks ago. I had "ra ra-ed" all my ex-greendot colleagues in the hope that we could meet up for a gathering. Unfortunately, it was near impossible to get anywhere beyond 7 pax after talking until my saliva dry. Nevertheless, I decided to proceed as there these 6 other friends were truly very enthusiatic about visiting a Kelong.

One happy meal please


At Carrefour Macdonalds


So, it was with high spirts when we met up under my block. As predicted, the Jam started as early as 5.30am. But good thing was that we were early at 5.40, and the Jam wasn't too bad. It took us about 1 hour to clear to the other side, in time for a rendevous with Jean's car at the Carrefour Macdonalds for a early morning happy meal.

View from Lau Pok Chia


The meal kind of delayed the whole procession by quite a bit, and I was getting worried that we might not catch the 9am ferry. But we made good time, and managed to reach the Jetty at 9.15am, with the ferry still around.

Group pic on the rickety boat


Reaching the kelong


Our sleeping quarters


This trip, the timing was rather precise and by 10.15am, we reached the Kelong and started setting up for our fishing adventure. The water looked incredibly clear. There were plenty of fishes and surface activity but current was quite lacking as it was the low tide. But first thing first was to orientate the newbies into how to setup a fishing rod, and various other fishy matters.

Very soon, everyone was trained and abled and started our in the killing fields to show what they were made of. These students were fast learner, and we soon were filling up the icebox with the regular "miss wong" and other various assorted small fishes. Strangely, I didn't see much of Leng chiams this round. Apollo came up with mostly miss wong.

Even with 3 fishes together, Iz's "teck koh" rod also don't bend


I got fish, hee hee hee hee


Yay, my first fish (eric thinking, "mine bigger")


I got special fish (but very ugly)


What fish you want us to catch now?


I want to catch big fish


We like to talk cock in the tree house


Postcard pic


So envy. Someone landed this on live prawns


What fish is this? So big


The afternoon sun came up quite strongly, and some soon started taking shelter and some stop fishing altogether. But came late afternoon, everyone was back to fishing for small fishes with Tamban jigs. About 6pm, we noticed quite a few todaks and setup some floating rigs for the guys. Everyone was very keen on catching a todak. But the lack of small fishes kind of hampered the attempt. And very soon, it got dark, and todaks were no longer interested.

I got a grouper (baby one, released)


My biggest Barracuda. I am so happy


Handsome or not?


I also got


Action! Camera!


Picture! Picture!


We are not peeing hor


Eric's flying fish


Badly taken wedding dinner picture


Result of barracudas that don't behave


Kembong wave is here. Jig jig jig


The experts quickly filling up the tub


Model for sunsilk shampoo


A wave of Kembongs came in, and everyone in the Kelong started jig like mad and were filling up boxes of Kembongs. The timing was quite perfect as it was the high tide and evening. We were not too experience and only managed a pailful, but that was already quite an experience for group.

Night came, and I was quite dampened that Sotongs were not quite out in force. I tried a couple of times with my Yamashita and it didn't work. I changed back to luring and did get quite a lot of bites. But for some reasons no hookups at all. Even with my L-minnow changed to Stinger hooks, I didn't manage even one.

Got you


I now proclaim this lumi lure as my favourite!


I was kind of tired, and went to bed early around 11.30pm. Thinking to wake up at 5am to continue fishing, I overslept and woke up at 6am instead. With the little dusk period, I lured and tried out my lumi lure, SS minnow. And to my expectation, the lumi lure was excellant and I got many hits. I finally landed one about 10 minutes later, and in my excitement, I woke up Eric and Iz to have a look.

Hee hee hee hee. Hee hee hee hee


I caught this Parang myself!


Sibu sunrise


Sunrise view from Iz's cam


I definitely got more than 3-4 fish for this trip


I finally got you!


What Mr todak can do to your face


My "disposable" t-shirt


Me and my "Brokeback" Mountain rod


Everyone stirred and starting fishing at the golden hour. Fishes were definitely plentiful. Soon after, I landed another Parang though a smaller one. Eric was quite fuzzed that he wasn't getting big fish. To his credit, he threw out a small live fish on apollo hooks. And to his great surprise, he got a bite, and out came a Parang. I was totally impressed too to see that worked as well. He was overjoyed with this catch, as it was indeed quite special.

Everyone next started to jig live bait for targetting todaks. And indeed it worked that morning, as Mr Todaks were really around the kelongs. Live baits thrown out were quite guaranteed a bite within 5 minutes. After more lost attempts, Eric finally got the hang of it and landed a Todak. He was now in seventh clouds and could not contain his glee.

Where my todak? Sianz...


Yu hong, the fish fighter


Wah! I got a fish!


Justin and Danny finally got a Todak!


Power!


Justin and Danny decided to give it a shot, and not long after, Justin too landed a Todak. It was a proud moment. Yu Hong also gave it a try, and after one lost attempt, she too land a Todak entirely on her own. Everyone was maxing out their "biggest" fish score for this trip.

Finally, a Todak on the last fishing hour


This called for a group shot


Next time, I want this photo to be hanging in our bedroom, dear


Group shot to celebrate Isaac first todak


Isaac's 2nd todak gotten by foul hook


IZ's foul hooked todak


IZ tried very hard, but somehow always lost the fish during the fight. Seeing his disappointed look, I moved in to help. I attributed it to his "cannot make it" grandfather rod. I instructed him to use my black rose. The time now was like 10am, and we needed to pack by 11am. He had one more hour to overturn his todakless fishing career. And lo and behold, indeed he did manage one. He was ecstatic and went on to get another todak. This time round, Mr Todak was foul hooked on his body. Wow.

Commotion. Someone got a big one


Biggie ran into the stilts and was lost


I got you!


Remora thinking, "I surrender"


Big rabbit fish wor


Danny super long distance cast


2nd remora


He got a biggie


Looks small here, but actually about 3 ft long Barracuda


The girls were at the other end doing some jigging. Someone caught a barracuda and I saw the commotion when we were there for breakfast. But alas, the helper didn't manage to gaff the barra, and the lines snapped. Another time, there was another big catch. I didn't have a good look at it and it look roundish and silvery. I thought it was a Queen, but the helpers didn't think so as Queens don't run into the Kelong. The fish was lost when it navigated into the kelong and the line broke. It certainly was a full of action trip.

AHHHHHHH, My Todak!


Danny was the last yet to get a todak and everyone was rooting for him. And like last 5 minutes before we were supposed to pack, he did get one. With our guidance, he guided the todak under the kelong and with a swing, the todak swung up to our level. But to our dismay, the line snapped about 1 second away from the Kelong floor and todak dropped into the water and out of sight. Everyone went AH! It was just too bad.

Group pic with total catch


Total catch


Rare catch of a coral trout


So after lunch, we packed and headed for the Jetty. The rest of the way back was quite uneventful. Everyone parted happily and well satisfied at a very decent trip. The Jam at the custom wasn't too bad, and I cleared it like in half hour.

It was a very fruitful trip, that even for us newbies, we came back with a icebox full load of fishes. In all my trips here, this was certainly one of the best in terms of the fishing, even though I didn't hit on any big ones. Judging from everyone's tired and happy face, it was a meaningful trip all in all.